How Humans Have Shaped the Climate Over Centuries

The upcoming United Nations climate talks will address the centuries-long human impact on the environment. People have exploited the Earth’s resources for their own benefit, from draining lakes to burning fossil fuels, ultimately altering the planet’s climate.
For instance, Mexico City traces its roots to a settlement built on islands in the middle of Lake Texcoco. The lake has since been drained, leading to ongoing subsidence and increased vulnerability to climate-driven extreme weather events and flooding in the city.
Similarly, people across the globe have deforested vast areas for agriculture, degraded the environment through mining, and exploited nature’s resources for progress and productivity. This approach has led to significant emissions and environmental degradation.
The 16th and 17th centuries saw Europeans colonize the Americas, bringing with them the belief that altering landscapes for European-style agriculture and draining swamps would improve the climate. These actions were politically driven, benefitting capital-owning elites at the expense of rural populations.
The same period also saw the rise of ideas rooted in racial and cultural superiority, leading to projects of climate adaptation that protect white elites at the expense of communities of color. These ideologies still influence attitudes towards climate change and progress today.
Meanwhile, the British Empire’s reliance on coal as a central source of energy had a profound global impact, leading to an ongoing dependence on fossil fuels worldwide. The subsequent rise in energy use, particularly from oil and automobiles, has significantly contributed to human-caused climate change.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, China and Japan used growing coal consumption as a measure of economic development, while India pursued state-owned coal-fired plants to further its development despite environmental risks.
The 1960s and 70s saw environmental issues gain attention in the United States, leading to major legislation, the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the first Earth Day. However, addressing fossil fuel dependency remained a significant challenge.
Despite these challenges, many historians believe that rethinking persistent growth and operating within the limits of finite resources and atmospheric constraints can lead to a better future. By acknowledging the upper boundary of planetary limits and ensuring minimum social needs, societies can work towards sustainable progress.
The impact of human activity on the climate is profound and raises important questions about the role of progress and the need for global cooperation to address environmental challenges.
Source: The Associated Press